You are here

PHILADELPHIA -- After throwing 6-2/3 innings last night for Triple-A Pawtucket, Daisuke Matsuzaka has rejoined the Red Sox here today and expressed optimism that he has made positive strides in fixing the mechanical problems that plagued him earlier in his minor league rehab assignment.

"I was experimenting a lot during my previous starts," Matsuzaka said through translator Jeff Cutler. "I was able to figure out what was good and what's bad. The process for last night was getting rid of all the bad stuff and keeping all the good, and it turned out to be really good. I had a good arm angle. I was able to get my arm through on most of my pitches. I'm at a good place right now."

Matsuzaka (Matt Stone photo, right) is scheduled to make another start for the PawSox on Tuesday night. After that, his 30-day minor league rehab assignment is due to expire. If the Red Sox determine he's not ready to be activated, they would have to place Matsuzaka on the disabled list in order to restart the rehab clock. Matsuzaka is nearly a year removed from Tommy John elbow surgery and said he hasn't experienced any lingering pain.

Asked if he will be ready to rejoin the Red Sox' rotation after his next start, Matsuzaka said, "It depends on how I feel in my next start and how I feel at that point. The last start I felt very confident out there. I felt like I was able to grasp something that I was missing in the previous starts. So I am definitely getting closer to making it back to the majors. Going forward, it's all about the results coming together with how I feel. And with that, I should feel more comfortable out on the mound and it should give the front office more confidence in getting me up here."